Lloyds Register confirms commitment to Greek shipping

...and stresses need for the shipping industry to speak with a single voice in influencing industry regulation.

‘Hellenic seafaring tradition important for future of the industry in Greece’, says Hellenic Committee Chairman, Captain Panagiotis Tsakos, ‘Greek shipping is one of the main pillars of our economic life and can show the way in our development and growth.’

Lloyd’s Register’s Hellenic Advisory Committee met in Piraeus this week to discuss key industry issues with Lloyd’s Register’s senior management. Richard Sadler, CEO of Lloyd’s Register, said that the industry needs a shared voice to be better represented at international level, ‘It’s been said before that the industry needs one voice to stand up for shipping. This is a very high priority, what I am saying is not new and it’s not going to be easy, but we need to make this happen. Our vital industry needs to better protect and promote itself against repeated reactive, and increasingly regional, governance while still encouraging the innovation that we need.’

Following opening remarks by Lloyd’s Register’s Chairman, David Moorhouse, the committee of leading Greek shipowners shared views on the current key challenges facing the industry. In a session led by Lloyd’s Register’s Marine Director, Tom Boardley, and Apostolos Poulovassilis, Regional Marine Manager, Europe Middle East and Africa, the environment and areas where the Lloyd's Register Group is supporting owners in facing the challenge of new regulations, such as the forthcoming ballast water convention, were at the top of the list.

Luis Benito, the Group’s Marine Manager, Korea provided an update on newbuilding developments and technology. Korean shipyards he said were making a big play on quality, technology and rapid turn-around time using in-house design teams. While Capt. Tony Field, the Group’s Marine Business Manager, SE Europe, updated members on the human element in shipping and urged the committee to further support the training of Greek and EU seafarers to provide the industry with necessary trained expertise. The Group is able to provide training and support to help with seafarer and management training and now has leading human element expertise relevant to design and operations in shipping.

Connecting Greek shipping and culture, Apostolos Poulovassilis announced that Lloyd’s Register’s support for the 2,500th anniversary of the Athens Classic Marathon will raise funds for the Greek Merchant Marine Academies. Richard Sadler, CEO Lloyd’s Register will run the marathon with Group employees from several offices around the world.

The Committee’s Chairman, Capt. Panagiotis Tsakos, concluded the meeting talking about the importance of investing in the seafarers of the future, and the potential for young people, saying, ‘At a time of crisis, perhaps there are now some opportunities. There are fewer Greeks going to sea today – with fewer seafarers our technical and management skills will decline. At a time when the economic situation is so uncertain, the potential of careers at sea could be welcomed by the young today. Greece is a world leader in shipping and I hope that it can remain at the forefront of our vital industry.

Richard Sadler added, ‘At this time of difficulty for Greece we are certainly here to provide support for Greek operators – as we always have.’

The next Committee meeting will be held in November.